toy

toy — noun

1. a physical item, such as a doll, a ball, or a building set, that children play w

1.nounA1
Definition

a physical item, such as a doll, a ball, or a building set, that children play with for fun.

Example

Christopher picked up every toy in his room before dinner.

collocation: pick up toys / put away toys

The little girl carried her favourite toy elephant everywhere she went.

Common collocations
  • wooden toy
  • soft toy
  • toy box
  • toy store
  • toy car
  • stuffed toy
Synonyms
  • plaything

    more formal or literary; less common in everyday speech

  • game

    refers to an activity with rules, not a physical object to manipulate

Antonyms
  • tool

    a tool is used for practical work, not for play

Grammar Patterns

a + toy

toy + noun (toy car, toy store)

Usage Note

Frequently used as a modifier before another noun (toy car, toy shop, toy box) to describe items meant for children's play.

Common Mistakes

I bought a toy for my dog to play with.
I bought a dog toy for my dog to play with.
When referring to an item specifically made for pets, use 'dog toy' or 'cat toy' rather than just 'toy', which primarily means a children's plaything.

2. something that an adult buys or owns for enjoyment rather than for practical nee

2.nounB1
Definition

something that an adult buys or owns for enjoyment rather than for practical need — for example, a drone, a high-end camera, or a vintage car.

Example

Vivek spent the weekend flying his new drone — his favourite adult toy.

informal register: adult toy

Karim's old motorcycle was a fun toy he enjoyed fixing up.

Common collocations
  • new toy
  • expensive toy
  • adult toy
  • kitchen toy
  • tech toy
Synonyms
  • gadget

    focuses on electronic novelty; less emotional than toy

  • hobby item

    more neutral; lacks the self-deprecating tone of toy

Antonyms
  • necessity

    something required for daily life, not optional

Grammar Patterns

someone's + toy

toy + noun (toy drone)

Usage Note

This sense carries a mildly playful or self-aware tone. The speaker acknowledges the item is not essential. Often used with a possessive (his toy, my new toy).

toy — adjective

toy — verb

Word family

  • toying
    noun (gerund)C1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Toy is the everyday word for any object a child plays with, from a plastic dinosaur to a board game. Plaything is a more formal or literary synonym, best suited for writing rather than casual conversation — a parent might say 'put your toys away' but would rarely say 'put your playthings away.' Game usually refers to an activity governed by rules (a board game, a card game), not a single object to manipulate. Doll is a specific type of toy — a human-shaped figure — so it is narrower than toy. In context: 'Eve grabbed a toy from the shelf' leaves the item unidentified, while 'Eve grabbed a doll from the shelf' specifies it. For everyday classroom or home use, toy is the safest and most natural choice across all contexts.

toy ↗playthinggame ↗doll ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • toy with the idea of
  • toy with someone's feelings
  • toy breed
  • toy poodle

Prepositions

Etymology

GermanicEnglish

The English word 'toy' first appeared around 1300 with the meaning of 'a game, an amusement, or a piece of fun.' Its origin is uncertain, but it may come from an old Germanic root related to 'tug' or 'pull' — suggesting something that is drawn or pulled along as a plaything. By the 1500s, 'toy' was used for any small object children played with. The verb sense ('to toy with') emerged in the early 1800s, first meaning to handle something idly, and later (by the mid-1800s) extending to the idea of playing with a person's emotions. The adjective use for small dog breeds became common in the late 1800s as breeders developed miniature versions of popular dogs.